Ray directing device



Jan. 5, 1954 J. B. BARTOW RAY DIRECTING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledDec. 14, 1950 Jan- 5, J B RAY DIRECTING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledDec. 14, 1950 Jan. 5, 1954 J. B. BARTOW RAY DIRECTING DEVICE 5Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 14, 1950 Patented Jan. 5, 1954 RAY DIRECTINGDEVICE John B. Bar-tow, Blue Bell, Pa., assignor to Bartow Beacons Inc.,Blue Bell, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application December 14,1950, Serial No. 200,795

6 Claims.

This invention relates to ray directing devices for X-rays and the like,and more particularly to a novel ray directing device composed ofcomponent members which are erranged in an assembly to constitute thecomplete device.

X-rays have been used to an increasing extent in diagnosis and treatmentof ailments of the human body, and the present invention is especiallyuseful in that field, although it is not limited thereto. In thetreatment of ailments by me: us of X-rays, it is desirable to be able toconcentrate a large number of such rays upon a particular spot or localarea of the body. In the diagnosis of ailments, it is desirable to beable to collect radiation given ofi by parts of the body afterintroduction of radioactive substances into the body. The deviceprovided by the present invention is well adapted for such purposes.

An object of the invention is to provide a ray directing device which isreadily adaptable for use in any instance in which it is desired toprovide for directivity control of Xrays and the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which mayfunction generally in the manner of a lens and which is readilyadjustable to give different focal lengths and also to give dififerentsizes and shapes of the focal area.

Another obiect of the invention is to provide a device which may bemanufactured at low cost and which may be constructed in any desiredsize.

A further obiect oi the invention is to provide a device which is madeup of a plurality of similrr units, and the size of which is determinedby the number of units assembled in any particular instance.

A further obiect of the invention is to provide a structure hich isadapted for use of multiple layers of units.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device which iswell suited for use of radioactive elements, such as isotope capsules orthe like. to pro ect directed rays from such elements.

Other objects and fettures oi the invention will be apparent from thefollowing detailed description with reference to the accompanyingrawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a device constructedaccording to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view taken from one side of the deviceshown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevationrl View taken from another side of the deviceshown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a top view of one of the component members of the device;

b Fig. 5 is an elevational side view of such mem- Fig. 6 is a sectionalview taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Figs. 7 and 8 are perspective views of two of the sections of acomponent member;

Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate diiferent adjustments of the device to givedifferent focrl lengths; and

Fig. 11 is a side elevational view of a multilayer arrangement.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 8 of the drawings, the device comprises aplurality of component members it! which are assembled in any desirednumber, as shown in Fig. 1. Each of the members i0 is of block-like formand has slightly convex sides, as may be seen more clearly in Figs. 2and 3. This enables the assembly to be curved and thus enables change ofthe focal length, area or shape, and also precludes any direct radiationpath through cracks or joints. As shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the members itmay be secured together by means of two sets of flexible rods extendinthrough apertures provided in said members, one set of flexible rods Hextending in one direction and the other set I 2 extending at rightangles to the first direction. As may be seen in Fig. 2, rods I! haveassociated with them set screw blocks l3 and also set screw blocks Mwhich carry a threaded extension IE to accommodate a tightening nut l6.As shown in Fig. 3, the rods [2 have similar associated elementsdesignated by reference numerals I? to 29. By mes us of the arrangementshown, the assembly may be fixed with any desired degree of curvaturewithin the limits established by the convexity of the component members.

As may be seen more clearly in 4 to 8, each of the members I0 is formedof a plurality of sections which collectively form the blocklike memberwith rectangular passages therein for the transmission of X rays and thelil; The parts or sections of each member is are formed of a materialwhich is ncntransmissive to X-rays, for example lead. As may be seen inF e. 5 d. 6, each member it comprises a pair of interfitting innersections or parts 25 and 22, and a pair of outer sections or parts 23and 2s. The interfitting faces of the inner sections f! and 22 arenon-planar, for example they may take the form shown at 25, the purposeof this being to preclude any possibility of passage of X-rays at theiunctures of said sections. The outer face portions of the innersections it and 2 2, and the inner face portions of the outer sec tions23 and 24 are complementary and are so formed as to cooperativelyprovide X-ray transmissive elements which may be in the form of thepassages 26 and 21. Preferably, there are four passages, as may beclearly seen in Fig. 4. Furthermore, the meeting faces of the inner andouter sections or parts are of zig-zag form, as shown at 28 and 29, topreclude any possibility of passage of X-rays between said faces, andX-ray transmissive passages are formed to provide ridges or shoulders 30and 3! to prevent transmission of secondary X-rays. The ridged formationof the passages is accomplished in a manner which will be clear fromFigs. 7 and 8. These figures show the outer section 23 and theassociated inner section 21 which have grooves 32 and 33 formed in theircomplementary face portions of the shape shown.

The construction described above provides traps within the X-raypassages which effectively prevent passage of secondary X-rays producedby a primary ray striking a surface. As may be seen from Fig. 6 suchsecondary rays will be dissipated or absorbed within the device.

The trap feature is claimed in this application only in the particularconstruction provided by the present invention. Such feature is broad-1y claimed in copending application Serial No. 319,382, filed November27, 1952, which is a division of application Serial No. 119,734, filedOctober 5, 1949.

With the four sections or parts of a component member assembled as shownin Figs. and 6, they may be held together by means of tubular members 3extending through apertures 35 provided in the sections or parts, theends of the tubular members 34 being flared outwardly, as at 35, tosecure the sections together. The tubular members 34 also accommodatethe rods H shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The inner sections 2i and 22 are alsoprovided with apertures 37, extending at right angles to the apertures35 to accommodate the rods 12 shown in Figs. 1 and 3. With the componentmembers assembled to the desired form, such as shown in Figs. 1 to 3,the outer spaces between the component members may be sealed with leadwool 38 or the like to prevent any passage of X-rays between the saidmembers.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the device as shownin Fig. l is composed of a plurality of component members arranged inside-by-side relation and each of which has a plurality of relativelylong and narrow parallel rectangular X-ray transmissive elements orpassages. In the illustrated embodiment, each of the component membersI!) has a group of four mutually parallel passages. By shaping theentire assembly to concavo-convex form, as shown in Figs. 1 to 3, thegroups of passages of the component members are directed toward apredetermined area on which it may be desired to concentrate X-rays orfrom which it may be desired to collect X-rays.

By adjusting the curvature of the device, it is readily possible toobtain different focal lengths and also to provide for diiferent areasof concentration at different distances from the device. By way ofillustration, Fig. 9 shows a number of the component members H! arrangedwith a degree of curvature to establish a focal point 39 at a certaindistance from the device. Fig. shows the same component members arrangedwith a greater degree of curvature to establish a focal point 49 at asmaller distance from the device. Adjustment of the curvature of thecomponent members also enables coverage of a arranged with a differentdegree of curvature to give the desired concentration over the largerarea.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the manufactureand assembly of the device provided by the invention is greatlyfacilitated by the fact that similar component members are used, andfurthermore the sections or parts of said members are the same.Moreover, manufacturing tolerances are not at all critical.

The description thus far has been with reference to an embodimentcomprising a single layer of component members or units as shown inFigs. 1 to 3. However, a further important feature of the inventionresides in the fact that the device may be composed of more than onelayer, with the layers arranged in superposed relation. Such anarrangement is desirable where rela-- tively hard rays are involved, asit provides a thicker body which will not be penetrated by such rays.Furthermore, it enables a change n the size of the affected area.Further still, it possible in such an arrangement to utilize radioactiveisotope capsules, radium needles or the hire in cooperative associationwith the device so that a radiation source is provided in associationwith each of the ray passages.

11 illustrates both a multi-layer arran ment the adaptation of such anarrangement for use of isotope capsules or the like. Referring to thisfigure, there are shown a first layer composed of component membersIt!!! and a second layer superimposed on the first layer and composed ofcomponent members 161), each of said layers being similar to the singlelayer in the device of Figs. 1 to 3. As shown in Fig. 11, the layers maybe secured together by means of the same fastening devices which holdthe component members in assemble-r1 relation. Thus, the fasteningdevices may include special members M and 42 which serve as interlinksbetween the two layers above mentioned. It will be apparent that thepassages of the layers must be aligned to provide the desired raypassages.

As mentioned above, a multi-layer arrangement enables use of isotopecapsules or the like in association with the individual ray passages.This also shown in 11 wherein a third layer is provided composed ofcomponent members Mic. The fastening devices and 4-4 serve to secure thethird layer to the second layer. ts may be seen from the cross-sectionalshowing in Fig. 11, the pasasges in the component mem bers We have beendrilled almost to the bottom to accommodate isotope capsules 4 -5 or thelike which are simply dropped into the passages and are retained thereinby virtue of the restricted lower ends of the passages. The spaces abovethe isotope capsules are filled with lead wool 48 or the like. With thisarrangement each or the isotope capsules constitutes a radioactivesource which is individual to the ray passage with which the capsule isassociated. The rays given of by the isotope capsules traverse thepassage and emerge therefrom, as shown by the arrows 47 While certainembodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, itwill be apparent that various modifications and other embodiments arepossible within the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A ray directing device for X-rays and the like, comprising anassembly of component blocklike members in side-by-side relation, eachof said members bein composed of material which is non-transmissive tosaid rays, and each of said members comprising complemental sections orparts forming rectilinear passages for transmission of said rays, saidsections being formed to provide ridges or shoulders in said passages toprevent transmission of secondary X-rays.

2. A ray directing device for X-rays and the like, comprising a curvedassembly of component block-like members in side-by-side relation, eachof said members being composed of material which is non-transmissive tosaid rays, and each of said members comprising complemental sections orparts forming parallel rectilinear passages for transmission of saidrays, the degree of curvature of said assembly determining the focus ofthe device, said sections being formed to provide ridges or shoulders insaid passages to prevent transmission of secondary X-rays.

3. A ray directing device for X-rays and the like, comprising aplurality of block-like members having longitudinally convex sides andarranged in side-by-side relation, each of said members having parallellongitudinal rectilinear ray transmissive elements but being" otherwisenon-transmissive to said rays, and means comprising fiexible rodsextending through said members for holding them in assembled relation.

4. A ray directing device for X-rays and the like, comprising aplurality of block-like members' having longitudinally convex sides andarranged in side-by-side relation, each of said members being composedof material which is non-transmissive to said rays, and each of saidmembers comprising complemental sections or parts forming parallellongitudinal rectilinear passages for transmission of said rays, andmeans comprising flexible rods extending through said members forholding them in assembled relation. 5. A device according to claim 4,wherein said sections or parts are formed to provide ridges or shouldersin said passages to prevent transmission of secondary X-rays.

6. A ray directing device for X-rays and the like, comprising aplurality of block-like members having longitudinally convex sides andarranged in side-by-side relation, each of said members being composedof material which is non-transmissive to said rays, and each of saidmembers comprisin a pair of interfitting inner sections or parts and apair of outer sections or parts complemental to said inner sections andforming therewith parallel longitudinal rectilinear passages fortransmission of said rays, and means comprising flexible rods extendingthrough said members for holding them in assembled relation.

JOHN B. BARTOW.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,465,340 Buck Aug. 21, 1923 1,476,048 Bucky Dec. 4, 19232,067,589 Antrim Jan. 12,1937 2,133,385 Freeman Oct. 18, 1938 2,139,966Loebell Dec. 13, 1938 2,522,522 Krasnow Sept. 19, 1950 2,542,196 HauptFeb. 20, 1951 OTHER REFERENCES Introduction to Modern Physics, by F. K.Richtmyer et al., 1947 Edition, McGraw Hill Book 00., N. Y., pp.525-526.

